pahle thi so ab bhi hai

hamesha kī tarah tañgī jo pahle thī vo ab bhī hai

badan par ik phaTī luñgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

pareshānī se sar ke baal tak sab jhaḌ ga.e lekin

purānī jeb meñ kañghī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

idhar maiñ kasrat-e-aulād se lāġhar udhar un kī

zabāñ par tursh-e-nārañgī jo pahle thī sau ab bhī hai

banā hero se zero aur phir netā to kāñdhe par

vahī ik shaal be-rañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

nahīñ hotī to achchhā thā magar firqa-parastoñ meñ

vo yak-jihatī ham-āhañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

siyāsat meñ ta.assub kā daḳhl hone lagā jab se

diloñ meñ aa ga.ī tañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

jinheñ jantā kī fikr-e-āfiyat meñ ghul ke marnā thā

sehat un kī bhalī-chañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

libās-e-muḳhtasar meñ bhī tan-āsānī ke ḳhvāhāñ haiñ

kareñ kyā aatmā nañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

zarūrat aman kī duniyā meñ pahle se ziyāda hai

magar qīmat bahut mahñgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

ahinsā ke pas-e-parda bahut zoroñ pe tayyārī

aman ke naam par jañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

huā hai aur na hogā kuchh asar mujh par za.īfī kā

ḳhayāloñ meñ ye nairañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

zamāne kā chalan kyā pūchhte ho 'ḳhvāh-maḳhvāh' mujh se

vahī raftār be-Dhañgī jo pahle thī so ab bhī hai

hamesha ki tarah tangi jo pahle thi wo ab bhi hai

badan par ek phaTi lungi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

pareshani se sar ke baal tak sab jhaD gae lekin

purani jeb mein kanghi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

idhar main kasrat-e-aulad se laghar udhar un ki

zaban par tursh-e-narangi jo pahle thi sau ab bhi hai

bana hero se zero aur phir neta to kandhe par

wahi ek shaal be-rangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

nahin hoti to achchha tha magar firqa-paraston mein

wo yak-jihati ham-ahangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

siyasat mein tassub ka daKHl hone laga jab se

dilon mein aa gai tangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

jinhen janta ki fikr-e-afiyat mein ghul ke marna tha

sehat un ki bhali-changi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

libas-e-muKHtasar mein bhi tan-asani ke KHwahan hain

karen kya aatma nangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

zarurat aman ki duniya mein pahle se ziyaada hai

magar qimat bahut mahngi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

ahinsa ke pas-e-parda bahut zoron pe tayyari

aman ke nam par jangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

hua hai aur na hoga kuchh asar mujh par zaifi ka

KHayalon mein ye nairangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai

zamane ka chalan kya puchhte ho 'KHwah-maKHwah' mujh se

wahi raftar be-Dhangi jo pahle thi so ab bhi hai